New Sopranos documentary reveals why Martin Scorsese dislikes the show Sopranos creator David Chase has explained why Martin Scorsese dislikes the show.
Chase is the subject of a new two-part documentary directed by Alex Gibney, which sees the writer and director reflect on the series by sharing insights into its creation, casting and iconic scenes.
As well as highlighting the scene in season three that may have explained the truth behind the show’s divisive ending, Chase reveals that filmmaker Scorsese wasn’t a fan of the show – despite the fact that it featured numerous references to his 1990 gangster film Goodfellas.
In the series’ first episode, which airs on HBO on Saturday (September 7), Chase talked about filming the show in New Jersey, which he said was crucial to the show’s success.
“I banned any exterior shots anywhere other than New Jersey because I wanted it to be authentic. I know New Jersey really well. For example, in [the season one episode] ‘Meadowlands,’ it’s a combination of real heavy industry and the world’s largest urban wilderness.”
However, it’s for this reason that Chase said Scorsese wasn’t a fan of The Sopranos. He told Gibney: “Marty Scorsese didn’t like the show. He said, ‘I don’t get it — it’s like all these trees and shit.’ ”
Explaining why Scorsese might have felt that way, Chase said The Sopranos went against the grain of gangster-focused projects up to that point.
“A lot of the gangster stuff before that took place in Manhattan or Brooklyn,” Chase added: “And I knew there was a gangster presence in New Jersey — kids whose dads were big bookies, loan sharks.” He said that in the town where he grew up, “Some guy got blown up in his garage.”
In 2019, Scorsese, who grew up in Little Italy, Manhattan, shared his disdain for The Sopranos, telling Sight & Sound: “I think I only watched one episode… because I couldn’t relate to that generation of the underworld. They lived in New Jersey with big houses? I didn’t get it.
“They used language — four-letter words — in front of their daughters, at the dinner table? I don’t understand that. I just didn’t grow up that way.”
Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos airs on HBO September 7.
